2006 Ford Explorer 4X4 User Reviews

Pros

Atrractive Vehicle and overall seating capacity

Cons

Transmission Unable to be repaired

I have a Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer with a V8 and it has 19,200 miles on it and we have had nothing but problems with the transmission since the 2,500 mile mark. Previously, the vehicle lunged forward on take off and stopping. Now it lunges or bucks as if someone hit you from behind. I have had the car to the dealership 5-6 times and no fix yet! Ford has issued a TSB for this type of problem unfortunately it doesn't fix the problem. It has undergone reprogramming to the PCM and other modules without success and each time the dealer felt they had "fixed" the problem by reprogramming the computer, but the problem is still there. I talked to Ford as well as the service department who talked directly with Ford technicians and we have been told the slips and bangs are normal. Apparently Ford believes that it's normal to feel like you are being rear-ended every time you come to a stop as the tranmission slips and bangs. Last weekend in stop/go traffic and numerous bumps in the back, the transmission would not shift out of low gear and we had to drive over 100 miles at 4500 rpms. Horrible performance....read morehide

Pros

Comfortable, handles extremely well, most features perform very well.

Cons

World's worst transmission, Ford aware of this and not responding to owners.

I have a 2006 Ford Explorer with the V8 and 6 speed automatic. The tramsmission works well when the car is underway, but it has an extremely annoying hesitation when starting in first gear. The car rolls forward a bit, then there's a clunk and first gear finally engages. This also happens with a rolling stop and when up and down shifting between first and second. In every other way, I like this car, even though it cost me a bundle. Problem is, the dealer cannot fix the problem. They have other customers with the same problem and can't help them either. Countless other owners nationwide have other problems with this same badly designed transmission. I've had the car in five times, and each time the dealer felt they had "fixed" the problem by reprogramming the computer, but the problem is still there. It ruins what would otherwise be a great car. This transmission is built in France, I don't know why, but Ford is aware of the trouble and either can't or won't do anything about it, even though they've received a tremendous number of complaints. Between the way I've been treated by the dealer and Ford's complicity in this, I will never buy another Ford, and am now thinking of how to get rid of this otherwise wonderful vehicle and buy something else, being much more careful next time what I buy!...read morehide

Pros

Competitive Pricing

Cons

Transmission Shifting

This is my 3rd Ford Explorer. I like the vehicle, the price point compared to the competition, the amenities, etc. but the transmission is problematic. My 2006 Explorer (V8) is going to the shop for the third time with the same hard shifting issue others have reported.
The first time the dealer took quite a while and explained that they had several Explorer owners recently report the same issue. Ultimately they were untable to find a problem and nothing was done. The second visit they reprogrammed the computer so it could relearn my driving habits. That worked great for about a month. I haven't taken it back in outside of normal service intervals because I know they will just reprogram again. Ford needs to step up to the plate and fix this problem....read morehide

Pros

Looks and Comfort

Cons

Poor gas milage and the ever present transmission problems

I purchased a used Ford manufacturer's vehicle that was driven by their Georgia regional executive. Being a manufacturer's vehicle and one used by the regional executive naturally this should be a near perfect vehicle, well maintained, in good order, no problems in the least that is what the dealership GM said. WRONG, WRONG WRONG. Experiencing the same transmission problems with the six speed automatic that many of you are. Several trips (8 total in 2 months) to the dealership and no fix in sight. Reprogrammed, replaced modulkes, scratching heads and still problems. Tired of hearing "we followed the issued technical bulletin", still no fix. Looks like either a major Ford recall of all these V/8 six speed automatic lemons or fight it out in arbitration. Remember the old slogan, "Quality is Job One", well Bill Ford and his company engineers have failed miserably on this "FIX OR REPAIR DAILY" vehicle. I will never buy a Ford vehicle again and list from a die hard Ford fan of 40 years. Bill come on over and take a drive....read morehide

Pros

styling

Cons

transmission is terrible

I purchased the top of the line 2006 Limited. What a mistake. It has been in the shop 5 times. Terrible transmission. Dealer says it is a Ford problem and there is nothing they can do. I have written to Ford with no response. I own 4 Ford vehicles. I will never buy another Ford again. Ford is totally unresponsive to loyal customers....read morehide

Pros

Very comfortable, Smooth ride, factory system is great.

Cons

Just having to fill that gas tank with the current gas prices.

I love FORD!! I will NEVER own anything else. I had a Mustang, then the Focus and now the EB Explorer. Honestly, I only have the SUV is b/c I have children and there is plenty of room for all the things they may need. The 3rd row sitting is what got me to buy the Explorer instead of the Expendition. We have taken this SUV into NC & TN mountains and haven't had a problem yet. Ride was smooth up and down the mountains. We even took the car to ATL the weekend after we bought it and that was a comfortable ride. You don't feel all the bumps and dips. Oh yeah, I have the car since 6/06 and have right at 15,000 miles on it and have NEVER *knock on wood* had to take it into the dealership for ANY problems. So all the transmission problems I've read about on here I've never had to deal with. However, the owner manual says to do maintaince every 5,000 miles and I do it every 3,000 instead.

I'm bias I'm a FORD girl, but I went from the racing car to the sedan, to the SUV and I thought the difference in the height of the car would make it hard to drive, but I haven't had a problem yet adjusting the difference in the cars.

I like the door design b/c it is different. Now the first time getting out I was like how do you open the door, but you get used to it. I love the safe features....read morehide

Pros

Nice looking

Cons

Transmission problems

I have a Ford Explorer E.B with a V8 and it has 7,200 miles on it and I have had nothing but problems with the transmission. The car shifts really hard and 'Bucks' into gear and actually lunges forward. I have had the car to the dealership 3 times and no fix yet! Ford has issued a TSB for this type of problem unfortunately it doesn't fix the problem. It seems that quite a few other Ford Explorer owners are complaining of the same problems...read morehide

Pros

Great Truck

Cons

Transmission on V8 has a TSB and ford has done little to correct this

Nice truck, lots of nice extras but there is something very wrong with my V8 transmission it slips, and jolts when driving. Took the truck to ford today and it seems to be better but when speaking other owners this problem only will return again shortly...I see a recall in the future!!

Pros

Excellent and the best SUV on-road

Cons

The worse car ever off-road (high fules consumption)

I got my XLS 4.0 2006 model 4 month back.
This is one excellent SUV when driven on-road. low noise, very conf.
High fuel consumption and has manufacturing deffects such as cruise control malfunctioning at a 160KM/h (they solved it at 140KM/s by upgrading software).
There is a very disturbing wistle from the engine at a certain time during accelration, Ford says it is normal.
The break is great and the anti-drift is WONDERFUL!

However....

I strongly advise you all NOT to go off-road with it.
I think a WW beatle would perform better in sand and muds
This is NOT the right car for off-road. The new expedition yes (i tested it) and the F150 is very good off-road, but not the explorer :(
I got stuck many times with it while a Nissan Patrol/cruiser and Jeep were performing much better in the same place. The worse of all, the car is so heavy a Hummer h2 was not able to pull me out even with another pathfinder pulling at the same time!...read morehide

I thought I would update the review I did in November regarding the transmission problems. In summary, the transmission would shift very hard from 1st to 2nd when cold and occasionally slip. Similar problems to what a lot of you are writing about. I bought it used with 10k miles on it and just had it in for 15k service at the dealer where I asked to have the transmission problems addressed. They recalibrated the PCM and TCM. These are computer control modules for the transmission. The problem is completely gone. It now behaves like a transmission of the caliber should....read morehide